Community Board 11 OKs Douglaston car dealership expansion

Community Board 11 granted the East Hills Chevrolet in Douglaston permission to build a parking deck and expand its showcase to display six more new cars.

The car dealership at 240-02 Northern Boulevard, originally constructed in 1954, needed to grow in order to be “competitive in the market” and “meet new standards of Chevrolet,” according to the building’s architect, Gerald Caliendo.

“In order to keep a dealership, you have to keep up with the Joneses and accommodate the look of the building,” Caliendo said.

The small automobile showroom can currently hold two cars. An expansion to the west of the building would allow a total of eight brand new vehicles to be displayed, dealership representatives said.

“We don’t really have a history of complaints with the business or site at all,” said Joseph Sollano, chair of the board’s Douglaston Zoning Committee. “It seems that what they’re asking for is somewhat minor and understandable.”

Construction, slated to take about four to six months, will be fenced off and contained within the property, Caliendo said. Dealership officials said it will not obstruct adjacent properties or traffic.

About 20 more parking spots for employees and customers would be created with the deck, officials said.